MaxLinear MxL683 Selected by STMicroelectronicsfor Low-Cost ISDB-T Set-Top
Box Reference Design for Latin America
STMicroelectronics’ STiH207 reference design includes MaxLinear’s MxL683
single-chip ISDB-T receiver on-board; provides a cost-optimized, future-proof
solution for free-to-air retail and government-subsidized STBs
Business Wire
CARLSBAD, Calif. -- May 29, 2013
MaxLinear Inc. (NYSE: MXL), a leading provider of integrated radio frequency
(RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communications
applications, today announced that its MxL683 has been selected by
STMicroelectronics for the STiH207 reference design, a small form factor,
cost-optimized set-top box (STB) design for Latin America.
The design collaboration between MaxLinear and STMicroelectronics is aimed at
facilitating the successful switch off of analog television services in the
region, thereby allowing regional governments to auction the RF spectrum for
4G-LTE mobile high-speed broadband services.
The STiH207 reference design is an integrated set-top box hardware and
software solution in a very small form factor. The platform enables
manufacturers to bring low-cost digital set-top boxes to market very quickly,
and also provides a scalable platform to add advanced features. The
high-performance chipset architecture and powerful CPU can enable hybrid
broadcast plus broadband (over-the-top) video services or advanced middleware
applications (such as Ginga® for the Latin American market) with the same,
common platform.
In Brazil, the national telecommunications agency (ANATEL) recently passed
legislation to accelerate the adoption of digital television and release the
700MHz RF spectrum for mobile broadband services. The availability of low-cost
converter boxes is essential to meet this objective and enable the government
to subsidize a large number of boxes for low-income families that cannot
afford them. The digital converter boxes are necessary to ensure that homes
will continue to receive free television services after the planned analog
blackout, which begins in 2015.
“Governments throughout Latin America are following Brazil’s lead and
launching programs to free up the ultra-high frequency UHF spectrum for LTE,”
said Brian Sprague, Vice President and General Manager, Broadband and Consumer
Products at MaxLinear. “These governments can generate a tremendous amount of
money by auctioning off this valuable spectrum to the private sector, and the
set-top box solutions we are developing with ST are helping to make this
happen.”
“Collaboration with MaxLinear enables us to deliver a best-in-class STB system
solution to our customers,” said Hervé Mathieu, Head of Box and Gateway
Business Lines at STMicroelectronics. “MaxLinear’s market-leading ISDB-T
tuner-demodulator technology is a perfect complement to the STiH207 HD STB
platform and provides field-proven RF performance at a very affordable price
point.”
The analog switch off, which will occur in most Latin America countries
between 2016 and 2018, is expected to drive substantial demand for new digital
TVs and set-top boxes in the retail market. NexTV LATAM Consulting, in its DTT
in Latin America 2010-2015 report, has estimated that free-to-air TV will
remain the most popular choice for TV reception in Latin America and will be
used in more than 100 million households in 2017.
Technical Highlights
The MxL683 is a highly integrated, single-chip ISDB-T compliant receiver with
best-in-class RF tuner and demodulator performance. The MxL683 offers the
highest level of integration and the lowest power consumption of any ISDB-T
solution in the market. Unlike other competitive devices, MxL683 has been
extensively field tested and optimized to ensure robust over-the-air TV
reception in the difficult terrestrial reception environments commonly found
throughout Brazil and other Latin American countries.
The STiH207 uses the latest process technology to provide a cost-effective,
feature-rich, highly integrated SoC for set-top boxes (STBs). It is targeted
at the advanced decoding STB market across all networks
(cable/satellite/DTT/x-DSL/IP) worldwide and is suitable for both operator
markets (with advanced security) and retail markets. The STiH207 broadens
market access to HD zappers, personal video recorders (PVR), Internet protocol
(IP) clients and dual-HD boxes supporting connected-TV services such as
Internet protocol television (IPTV), information channels and over-the-top
(OTT) video, gaming, catch-up TV and social networking.
About MaxLinear Inc.
MaxLinear Inc. is a leading provider of radio-frequency and mixed-signal
semiconductor solutions for broadband communications applications. MaxLinear
is located in Carlsbad, California, and its address on the Internet is
www.maxlinear.com.
MxL, Full-Spectrum Capture, FSC and the MaxLinear logo are trademarks of
MaxLinear Inc. Other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their
respective owners.
Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of
federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others,
statements concerning or implying future financial performance or trends and
growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, in particular statements relating to
our design collaboration with STMicroelectronics, deployments of the MxL683
for set-top boxes in the Latin America retail television market, and
anticipated growth opportunities for MaxLinear in Latin America. These
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and
other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any
future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We
cannot predict whether or to what extent the reference design collaboration
with STMicroelectronics or opportunities in Latin America for the MxL683 will
result in future revenues. Forward-looking statements are based on
management’s current, preliminary expectations and are subject to various
risks and uncertainties, including (among others) intense competition in our
industry; the ability of our customers to cancel or reduce orders;
uncertainties concerning how end user markets for our products will develop,
including end markets in Latin America; our lack of long-term supply contracts
and dependence on limited sources of supply; potential decreases in average
selling prices for our products; and on-going intellectual property litigation
related to hybrid television tuner products. In addition to these risks and
uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained
in MaxLinear’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), including risks and uncertainties identified in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and our Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. All forward-looking
statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
MaxLinear is providing this information as of the date of this release and
does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements
contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise.
Contact:
MaxLinear Inc. Press Contact:
The David James Agency LLC
David Rodewald
805-494-9508
david@davidjamesagency.com
or
MaxLinear Inc. Corporate Contact:
Yves Rasse
Senior Director, Consumer Product Line
760-692-0711
yrasse@maxlinear.com